Overview - Surah 87: al-A`la (The Most High )

The Surah speaks about the praise of Allah the Most High. He created everything. He created the human being and gave him capacity to make progress. Man can make progress if he obeys Allah's rules. The Qur'an is the message from Allah and He will guard it. The Prophet should continue giving the message to others. Those who accept it will benefit from it, but those who will reject it they will be the losers.  It talks about the 'Akhirah and that this message is the same that was given to Prophets Ibrahim and Moses.

The Surah takes its name from the first Ayat, سَبِّحِ اسْمَ رَبِّكَ الْأَعْلَى "Exalt the name of your Lord, the Most High," [87:1]

There are 19 Ayat in this Surah.

The Surah speaks about the praise of Allah the Most High. He created everything. He created the human being and gave him capacity to make progress. Man can make progress if he obeys Allah's rules. The Qur'an is the message from Allah and He will guard it. The Prophet should continue giving the message to others. Those who accept it will benefit from it, but those who will reject it they will be the losers.  It talks about the 'Akhirah and that this message is the same that was given to Prophets Ibrahim and Moses.

The Surah takes its name from the first Ayat, سَبِّحِ اسْمَ رَبِّكَ الْأَعْلَى "Exalt the name of your Lord, the Most High," [87:1]

There are 19 Ayat in this Surah.

This short Surah contains three themes. Monotheism (Tawhid), instructions to the Prophet and the Hereafter. In the first verse, the doctrine of Monotheism has been compressed into a single sentence, saying that God’s name should be glorified and exalted, i.e. He should not be remembered by any name which might reflect a deficiency, fault, weakness, or an aspect of likeness, with created beings, for the root of all false creeds in the world are wrong concepts about God, which assumed the form of an erroneous name for His glorious and exalted Being. Therefore, for the correction of the creed, the primary thing is that God Almighty should be remembered only by the beautiful names which suit and befit Him. In the next three verses, it has been said: “Your Lord, glorification of Whose name is being enjoined, is He Who created everything in the Universe, proportioned it, set it a destiny, taught it to perform the function for which it is created, you witness this manifestation of His power day and night, that He creates vegetation on the earth as well as reduces it to mere rubbish. No other being has the power to bring about spring nor the power to prevent autumn.”

Then, in the following two verses, the Prophet is being consoled, “Do not worry as to how you will remember word for word the Qur’an that is being revealed to you. It is for Us to preserve it in your memory, and its preservation is not in any way the result of any excellence in you but the result of Our bounty and favour, otherwise if We so will, We can cause you to forget it.” Then, the Prophet has been told: “You have not been made responsible to bring everyone on to the right path; your only duty is to convey the truth, and the simplest way of conveying the truth is that admonition be given to him who is inclined to listen to the admonition and accept it, and the one who is not inclined to it, should not be pursued. The one who fears the evil consequences of deviation and falsehood, will listen to the truth and accept it, and the wretched one who avoids listening to and accepting it, will himself see his evil end.”

The discourse has been summed up, saying: “Success is only for those who adopt purity of belief, morals and deed, and remember the name of their Lord and perform the Prayer. But, on the contrary, the people are wholly lost in seeking the ease, benefits and pleasures of the world, whereas they should actually endeavor for their well being in the Hereafter, for the world is transitory and the Hereafter everlasting and the blessings of the Hereafter are far better than the blessings of the world. This truth has not been expressed only in the Qur’an but in the books of the Prophets Abraham and Moses too, it had been brought to the notice of man.

This short Surah contains three themes. Monotheism (Tawhid), instructions to the Prophet and the Hereafter. In the first verse, the doctrine of Monotheism has been compressed into a single sentence, saying that God’s name should be glorified and exalted, i.e. He should not be remembered by any name which might reflect a deficiency, fault, weakness, or an aspect of likeness, with created beings, for the root of all false creeds in the world are wrong concepts about God, which assumed the form of an erroneous name for His glorious and exalted Being. Therefore, for the correction of the creed, the primary thing is that God Almighty should be remembered only by the beautiful names which suit and befit Him. In the next three verses, it has been said: “Your Lord, glorification of Whose name is being enjoined, is He Who created everything in the Universe, proportioned it, set it a destiny, taught it to perform the function for which it is created, you witness this manifestation of His power day and night, that He creates vegetation on the earth as well as reduces it to mere rubbish. No other being has the power to bring about spring nor the power to prevent autumn.”

Then, in the following two verses, the Prophet is being consoled, “Do not worry as to how you will remember word for word the Qur’an that is being revealed to you. It is for Us to preserve it in your memory, and its preservation is not in any way the result of any excellence in you but the result of Our bounty and favour, otherwise if We so will, We can cause you to forget it.” Then, the Prophet has been told: “You have not been made responsible to bring everyone on to the right path; your only duty is to convey the truth, and the simplest way of conveying the truth is that admonition be given to him who is inclined to listen to the admonition and accept it, and the one who is not inclined to it, should not be pursued. The one who fears the evil consequences of deviation and falsehood, will listen to the truth and accept it, and the wretched one who avoids listening to and accepting it, will himself see his evil end.”

The discourse has been summed up, saying: “Success is only for those who adopt purity of belief, morals and deed, and remember the name of their Lord and perform the Prayer. But, on the contrary, the people are wholly lost in seeking the ease, benefits and pleasures of the world, whereas they should actually endeavor for their well being in the Hereafter, for the world is transitory and the Hereafter everlasting and the blessings of the Hereafter are far better than the blessings of the world. This truth has not been expressed only in the Qur’an but in the books of the Prophets Abraham and Moses too, it had been brought to the notice of man.

• Ibn Kathir mentions that the Prophet would read in the Eid prayer along with Jumuah Prayer Surah al-A'la [87].

• ‘Uqbah bin ‘Amir Al-Juhani said: “When the following was revealed: ‘So glorify the Name of your Lord, the Most Great’,[69:52] the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said to us: ‘Say this in your Ruku’.’ And when the following was revealed: ‘Glorify the Name of your Lord, the Most High.’[87:1] the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said to us: ‘Say this in your prostrations.’” Ibn Majah 

• Ibn Kathir mentions that the Prophet would read in the Eid prayer along with Jumuah Prayer Surah al-A'la [87].

• ‘Uqbah bin ‘Amir Al-Juhani said: “When the following was revealed: ‘So glorify the Name of your Lord, the Most Great’,[69:52] the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said to us: ‘Say this in your Ruku’.’ And when the following was revealed: ‘Glorify the Name of your Lord, the Most High.’[87:1] the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said to us: ‘Say this in your prostrations.’” Ibn Majah 

The subject matter shows that this too is one of the earliest Surahs to be revealed, and the words: “We shall enable you to recite, then you shall never forget” of verse 6 also indicate that it was sent down in the period when the Messenger was not yet fully accustomed to receiving Revelation and at the time Revelation came down he feared lest he should forget its words. If this verse is read along with verse 114 of Surah 20: Ta Ha and verses 16-19 of Surah 75: al-Qiyamah (The Resurrection) and the three verses are also considered with regard to their styles and contexts, the sequence of events seems to be that first in this Surah the Prophet was reassured to the effect: “Do not at all worry: We shall enable you to recite this Word, then you shall not forget it.” Then after a lapse of time, on another occasion, when Surah 75: al-Qiyamah was being revealed, the Prophet involuntarily began to rehearse the words of the Revelation. Thereupon it was said: “O Prophet do not move your tongue to remember this Revelation hastily. It is for Us to have it remembered and read. Therefore when We are reciting it, listen to its recital carefully. Again, it is for Us to explain its meaning.” Last of all, on the occasion of the revelation of Surah 20: Ta Ha, the Prophet on account of human weakness, again became afraid lest his memory should fail to preserve some portion of the 113 verses which were continuously revealed at that time, and therefore, he began to memorise them. Thereupon, it was said: “And see that you do not hasten to recite the Qur’an before its revelation is completed to you.” After this, it never so happened that he felt any such danger, for apart from these three places, there is no other place in the Qur’an where there might be a reference to this matter.

The subject matter shows that this too is one of the earliest Surahs to be revealed, and the words: “We shall enable you to recite, then you shall never forget” of verse 6 also indicate that it was sent down in the period when the Messenger was not yet fully accustomed to receiving Revelation and at the time Revelation came down he feared lest he should forget its words. If this verse is read along with verse 114 of Surah 20: Ta Ha and verses 16-19 of Surah 75: al-Qiyamah (The Resurrection) and the three verses are also considered with regard to their styles and contexts, the sequence of events seems to be that first in this Surah the Prophet was reassured to the effect: “Do not at all worry: We shall enable you to recite this Word, then you shall not forget it.” Then after a lapse of time, on another occasion, when Surah 75: al-Qiyamah was being revealed, the Prophet involuntarily began to rehearse the words of the Revelation. Thereupon it was said: “O Prophet do not move your tongue to remember this Revelation hastily. It is for Us to have it remembered and read. Therefore when We are reciting it, listen to its recital carefully. Again, it is for Us to explain its meaning.” Last of all, on the occasion of the revelation of Surah 20: Ta Ha, the Prophet on account of human weakness, again became afraid lest his memory should fail to preserve some portion of the 113 verses which were continuously revealed at that time, and therefore, he began to memorise them. Thereupon, it was said: “And see that you do not hasten to recite the Qur’an before its revelation is completed to you.” After this, it never so happened that he felt any such danger, for apart from these three places, there is no other place in the Qur’an where there might be a reference to this matter.

•  أَنَّهُ قَالَ صَلَّى مُعَاذُ بْنُ جَبَلٍ الأَنْصَارِيُّ لأَصْحَابِهِ الْعِشَاءَ فَطَوَّلَ عَلَيْهِمْ فَانْصَرَفَ رَجُلٌ مِنَّا فَصَلَّى فَأُخْبِرَ مُعَاذٌ عَنْهُ فَقَالَ إِنَّهُ مُنَافِقٌ ‏.‏ فَلَمَّا بَلَغَ ذَلِكَ الرَّجُلَ دَخَلَ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَأَخْبَرَهُ مَا قَالَ مُعَاذٌ فَقَالَ لَهُ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ أَتُرِيدُ أَنْ تَكُونَ فَتَّانًا يَا مُعَاذُ إِذَا أَمَمْتَ النَّاسَ فَاقْرَأْ بِالشَّمْسِ وَضُحَاهَا ‏.‏ وَسَبِّحِ اسْمَ رَبِّكَ الأَعْلَى ‏.‏ وَاقْرَأْ بِاسْمِ رَبِّكَ ‏.‏ وَاللَّيْلِ إِذَا يَغْشَى
  
  'Mu'adh b. Jabal al-Ansari led his companions in the night prayer and prolonged it for them. A person amongst us said prayer (after having separated himself from the congregation). Mu'adh was informed of this, and he remarked that he was a hypocrite. When it (the remark) was conveyed to the man, he went to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and informed him of what Mu'adh had said. Upon this the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said to him: Mu'adh, do you want to become a person putting (people) to trial? When you lead people in prayer, recite:" By the Sun and its morning brightness" (Surat ash-Shams)," Glorify the name of thy most high Lord" (Surat al-A`la) and" Read in the name of Lord" (Surat al-`Alaq), and "By the night when it spreads" (Surat al-Lail). ٍSahih Muslim 

•  أَنَّهُ قَالَ صَلَّى مُعَاذُ بْنُ جَبَلٍ الأَنْصَارِيُّ لأَصْحَابِهِ الْعِشَاءَ فَطَوَّلَ عَلَيْهِمْ فَانْصَرَفَ رَجُلٌ مِنَّا فَصَلَّى فَأُخْبِرَ مُعَاذٌ عَنْهُ فَقَالَ إِنَّهُ مُنَافِقٌ ‏.‏ فَلَمَّا بَلَغَ ذَلِكَ الرَّجُلَ دَخَلَ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَأَخْبَرَهُ مَا قَالَ مُعَاذٌ فَقَالَ لَهُ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ أَتُرِيدُ أَنْ تَكُونَ فَتَّانًا يَا مُعَاذُ إِذَا أَمَمْتَ النَّاسَ فَاقْرَأْ بِالشَّمْسِ وَضُحَاهَا ‏.‏ وَسَبِّحِ اسْمَ رَبِّكَ الأَعْلَى ‏.‏ وَاقْرَأْ بِاسْمِ رَبِّكَ ‏.‏ وَاللَّيْلِ إِذَا يَغْشَى
  
  'Mu'adh b. Jabal al-Ansari led his companions in the night prayer and prolonged it for them. A person amongst us said prayer (after having separated himself from the congregation). Mu'adh was informed of this, and he remarked that he was a hypocrite. When it (the remark) was conveyed to the man, he went to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and informed him of what Mu'adh had said. Upon this the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said to him: Mu'adh, do you want to become a person putting (people) to trial? When you lead people in prayer, recite:" By the Sun and its morning brightness" (Surat ash-Shams)," Glorify the name of thy most high Lord" (Surat al-A`la) and" Read in the name of Lord" (Surat al-`Alaq), and "By the night when it spreads" (Surat al-Lail). ٍSahih Muslim 

• Tawhid: Allah is Almighty, always glorify Him.
• Allah has taken the responsibility off of Holy Prophet's memorization of the Qur'an by assuring him that he will not forget any portion of it.
• Those who heed Allah's reminders will be successful in the Hereafter

• Tawhid: Allah is Almighty, always glorify Him.
• Allah has taken the responsibility off of Holy Prophet's memorization of the Qur'an by assuring him that he will not forget any portion of it.
• Those who heed Allah's reminders will be successful in the Hereafter

• Surah 87. Al-A'la - Saad al Ghamidi  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5sMtIxci8w&index=87&list=PLhM2xiAUdw2cAqW_o3zZkbhJNw0bnaBZN
• Surah 87. Al-A'la Mahmoud Khalil Al Hussary  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EebhuIjAByM&list=PLxpAkjlGauHfMFWX22VZWOKpzjr-vH_BM&index=87​
• Surah 87. Al-A'la  Muhammad Al Luhaydan  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwmnK-vrhLc&index=87&list=PLxpAkjlGauHfKAYuQLRNAZomoezhfhRZeSurah 87. Al-A'la  Idris Akbar  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBz5f7a7uL8​
• 87. Al-A'la  Muhammad Minshawi  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4j4GclVTOU&list=PLxpAkjlGauHdUcO_uc-8F8J2NUQRDZjPG&index=87